Image acquiring device and method or rotating images

ABSTRACT

An image acquiring device and method of rotating images includes a scanning module, a driving mechanism, a selecting module, a control-processing unit and a memory. The scanning module scans a plurality of originals in sequence in conjunction with the driving mechanism. The selecting module selects a specific mark of a first original as a basis for judging an orientation state of a second original. The control-processing unit generates a digital mark signal stored in the memory according to the signals output from the scanning module and the selecting module. The control-processing unit judges a position of the digital mark signal in a digital signal obtained after the second original is scanned, and thus generates a rotating signal and rotates the digital signal into a normal image signal according to the rotating signal. Thus, the document image may be automatically rotated into a normal state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an image acquiring device and an imageacquiring method of rotating images, and more particularly to an imageacquiring device and an image acquiring method enabling a user to selecta specific mark of an original as a basis for image rotation.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the prior art, the scanned image has to be transferred to a computerand processed by the application software so that the image can berotated by 180 degrees. Typically, the user views the scanned image anddetermines whether the image has to be rotated or how the image has tobe rotated, or an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) method usingspecific OCR software can be used to determine the rotation angle, asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,011,877, 6,546,215, and 6,574,375.Alternatively, the conventional copier provides the user the function ofselecting the orientation of the image of the to-be-copied document, asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,213.

However, more and more scanners are designed as independent devices,which need not to be directly connected to the computer. For example,some scanners can be directly connected to a printer and directlyprocess the scanned results into print signals that can be accepted bythe printer. Alternatively, some scanners can be directly connected tothe Internet or the fax network and directly process the scanned resultsinto digital signals that can be transmitted through the Internet or faxnetwork. When the user manually places the documents or when anautomatic document feeder is used to feed a stack of documents, theimages of some documents may have an orientation opposite to that of theother documents. In this case, it is very inconvenient to manuallyrotate the images using the application software on the computer orusing the image rotating method on the copier. Using the OCR method toprocess the stack of documents requires a relatively large memory andthe documents only having pictures as contents cannot be recognized.

Thus, it is an important object of the invention to simplify thejudgement of the document orientation according to an initial setting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an image acquiringdevice capable of rotating images and a method therefor, wherein thejudgement of the document orientation may be simplified according to aninitial setting, and then the images may be rotated according to thejudgement.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention provides an imageacquiring device including a scanning module, a driving mechanism, aselecting module, a control-processing unit and a memory. The scanningmodule scans a plurality of originals in sequence in conjunction withthe driving mechanism. The selecting module selects a specific mark on afirst original as a basis for judging an orientation state of a secondoriginal. The control-processing unit generates a digital mark signalstored in the memory according to signals output from the scanningmodule and the selecting module. The control-processing unit judges aposition of the digital mark signal in a digital signal obtained afterthe second original is scanned, and thus generates a rotating signal androtates the digital signal into a normal image signal according to therotating signal. Thus, the document image may be automatically rotatedinto a normal state.

Alternatively, the rotating signal and the digital signal can bedirectly outputted to an image processing device, which performs thesubsequent rotating process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a first original and a second original to be scanned by animage acquiring device of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an image acquiring device according toa first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a selecting module of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows another example of the selecting module of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an image acquiring device according toa second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an image acquiring method of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a first original and a second original to be scanned by animage acquiring device of the invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagramshowing an image acquiring device according to a first embodiment of theinvention. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the image acquiring device 10 ofthe invention includes a scanning module 12, a driving mechanism 14, aselecting module 16, a control-processing unit 18 and a memory 20. Thescanning module 12 sequentially scans a first original D1 and a secondoriginal D2 to generate a first analog signal SA1 and a second analogsignal SA2 respectively. Each original has a specific mark M at aspecific position P. Usually, the specific mark M is located at one ofthe four long rectangles depicted by dashed lines of FIG. 1. In thisembodiment, the two originals are illustrated as an example and theinvention is not limited thereto. When the number of the originals isgreater than 2, the originals after the second original are processed inthe same manner as that for processing the second original.

The driving mechanism 14 moves the scanning module 12 with respect toeach of the originals. Thus, the driving mechanism 14 can be a scanningmodule driving mechanism for moving the scanning module of the scanningmodule 12, or an automatic sheet-feeding mechanism for feeding theoriginals. The selecting module 16 selects the specific mark M on thefirst original D1 to generate a standard position signal SSPcorresponding to a position SP of the specific mark M according to areference coordinate system of the image acquiring device.

The control-processing unit 18 respectively processes the first analogsignal SA1 and the second analog signal SA2 into a first digital signalDS1 and a second digital signal DS2, wherein the analog front endamplification, the analog-to-digital conversion and the gain processingmay be applied to the signals. Then, the control-processing unit 18generates a digital mark signal SDM of the specific mark M according tothe first digital signal DS1. That is, the image signal of the specificmark M is selected.

The selecting module 16 can automatically determine the position SP ofthe specific mark M according to the first digital signal DS1, or canprovide a selection interface for users such that the users can selectthe specific mark M by inputting instructions on the selectioninterface.

The memory 20 stores the digital mark signal SDM and the standardposition signal SSP, based on which the control-processing unit 18judges an orientation state of the second digital signal DS2. Thecontrol-processing unit 18 identifies a position of the digital marksignal SDM in the second digital signal DS2 and generates a rotatingsignal ST. That is, when it is judged that the digital mark signal SDMof the second digital signal DS2 is also positioned at the position SP,or the digital signal of the second digital signal DS2 at the positionSP is the digital mark signal SDM, the second digital signal DS2 doesnot have to be rotated, or the rotating signal ST may be defined as 0degrees. When it is judged that the digital mark signal SDM of thesecond digital signal DS2 is not positioned at the position SP, or thedigital signal of the second digital signal DS2 at the position SP isnot the digital mark signal SDM, the second digital signal DS2 has to berotated by 180 degrees, or the rotating signal ST may be defined as 180degrees. Of course, it is also possible to easily judge whether thesecond digital signal DS2 has to be rotated by 90 degrees or by 270degrees. Thus, the rotating signal ST indicates that the second digitalsignal DS2 be rotated by 0, 90, 180 or 270 degrees. Thecontrol-processing unit 18 can identify the digital mark signal SDM inthe second digital signal DS2 by comparing the digital signals which mayinclude steps of calculating the ratio of the number of black pixels tothe number of white pixels, calculating the gray-scale distribution anddetermining the matching rate between the digital signals.

Then, the control-processing unit 18 rotates the second digital signalDS2 according to the rotating signal ST and generates a normal imagesignal SN. The normal image signal SN can be outputted to an imageprocessing device 30 through an input/output port 22. The imageacquiring device can be connected to an image processing device 30through an input/output port 22 and outputs the normal image signal SNto the image processing device 30. In another embodiment, the imageacquiring device can be connected to an image processing device 30through an input/output port 22 and outputs the second digital signalDS2 and the rotating signal ST to the image processing device 30. Then,the image processing device 30 performs a rotation process on the seconddigital signal DS2 according to the rotating signal. The imageprocessing device 30 includes, without limitation to, one of theInternet, the fax network, the personal computer, the notebook computer,the workstation and the like.

In an modified embodiment, the control-processing unit 18 may furtherprocess the normal image signal SN into a print signal and output theprint signal to a printing device connected to the image acquiringdevice through the input/output port 22.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a selecting module of FIG. 2. Referring toFIG. 3, the selecting module 16 includes a display 16A and an inputdevice, such as a mouse, a track ball, etc, or a keyboard device 16B. Auser can view an image of the first original D1 on the display 16A. Theinput device 16B can be operated by the user to select the specific markM on the display 16A or to input a set of parameters to select theposition SP.

FIG. 4 shows another example of the selecting module of FIG. 2.Referring to FIG. 4, the selecting module 16 includes a plurality ofbuttons (an input device) 16C operated by the user to select thespecific mark M on the display 16A. Each button 16C corresponds to adefault position on the original, so it is useful to simplify theprocedure of inputting the positions of the specific marks because anyspecific mark on a document is typically positioned on one of thesedefault positions. Thus, in this embodiment, the user can directlyselect from the default positions the position of the specific markbefore the first original is scanned. That is, the user can select theposition of the specific mark on the provided sheet layout of the knownsheet size. Alternatively, the position of the specific mark can beinputted by the user through the keyboard without the image of the firstoriginal being viewed. Furthermore, the position of the specific markmay also be inputted by the user through the buttons according to thedisplay. In this condition, the buttons can be disposed around thedisplay. Alternatively, the display may be a touch panel having aplurality of buttons to be directly pressed by the user to make theselection.

Compared to the prior art using the OCR (Optical Character Recognition)method to judge the original orientation, the structure of the firstembodiment requires a smaller memory, and the judging method of thefirst embodiment is simpler.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an image acquiring device according toa second embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 5, the imageacquiring device of this embodiment includes a scanning module 12, adriving mechanism 14, a selecting module 16, a control-processing unit18′, a memory 20 and an input/output port 22′. The scanning module 12,the driving mechanism 14, the selecting module 16 and the memory 20 arethe same as those of the first embodiment, and detailed descriptionsthereof will be omitted. The control-processing unit 18′ respectivelyprocesses the first analog signal SA1 and the second analog signal SA2into a first digital signal DS1 and a second digital signal DS2, andgenerates a digital mark signal SDM of the specific mark M according tothe first digital signal DS1. The control-processing unit 18′ determinesa position of the digital mark signal SDM in the second digital signalDS2, and thus generates a rotating signal ST. The input/output port 22′outputs the second digital signal DS2 and the rotating signal ST to animage processing device 30′ such that the image processing device 30′rotates the second digital signal DS2 according to the rotating signalST.

Compared to the first embodiment, the second embodiment has a simplerstructure and requires a smaller memory, and the image acquiring devicecan perform the procedures more efficiently.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an image acquiring method of theinvention. As shown in FIG. 6, the image acquiring method of theinvention capable of rotating images sequentially scans a first originalD1 and a second original D2 and generates a first analog signal SA1 anda second analog signal SA2. A specific mark M is located at a specificposition P of each original. The image acquiring method of the inventionincludes the following steps.

In step 51, the first original D1 is scanned to obtain the first analogsignal SA1.

In step 52, the first analog signal SA1 is processed in to the firstdigital signal DS1.

In step 53, the specific mark M on the first original D1 is selected anda standard position signal SSP is generated corresponding to a positionof the specific mark M according to a reference coordinate system of theimage acquiring device.

In step 54, a digital mark signal SDM of the specific mark M isgenerated according to the first digital signal DS1.

In step 55, the digital mark signal SDM and the standard position signalSSP, based on which an orientation state of the second original D2 isjudged, are stored.

In step 56, the second original D2 is scanned to obtain a second analogsignal SA2.

In step 57, the second analog signal SA2 is processed into a seconddigital signal DS2.

In step 58, a position of the digital mark signal SDM in the seconddigital signal DS2 is identified to generate a rotating signal ST.

In step 59, the second digital signal DS2 is rotated to generate anormal image signal SN according to the rotating signal ST; or in step60, the rotating signal ST and the second digital signal DS2 areoutputted to an image processing device 30. It is to be noted that thefirst digital signal DS1 in step 52 is also outputted to the imageprocessing device 30 together with the rotating signal ST indicating arotation of zero degrees.

Step 53 can include the sub-steps of: providing a user a selectioninterface, which may be similar to the display 16A, the keyboard device16B and the button 16C of FIGS. 3 and 4 or any proper combinationthereof, and receiving an input by a user through the selectioninterface and selecting the specific mark M. Alternatively, step 53 canbe made by a selecting unit, which automatically determines the positionSP of the specific mark M according to first digital signal DS1.

Similarly, the above-mentioned rotating signal ST indicates that thesecond digital signal DS2 be rotated by 0 or 180 degrees. However, therotating signal ST can also indicate that the second digital signal DS2be rotated by 90 or 270 degrees.

According to the image acquiring device and method of the invention, theuser only has to make a simple setting before or after the firstoriginal is scanned in order to enable the image acquiring device toautomatically rotate the subsequent scanned images into the normalstate, such that all the scanned images have the same orientation. Therequired memory capacity of this invention can be effectively reducedfrom that of the prior art using the OCR technology. Alternatively, ifthe scanned signal is converted into a digital signal and a rotatingsignal, which are outputted to the computer system for processing thesignals, the required memory capacity may be further reduced, and theuser can operate this device more effectively.

While the invention has been described by way of examples and in termsof preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention isnot limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it isintended to cover various modifications. Therefore, the scope of theappended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications.

1. An image acquiring device, comprising: a scanning module forsequentially scanning a first original and a second original torespectively generate a first analog signal and a second analog signal,wherein a specific mark is located at a specific position of each of theoriginals; a driving mechanism for moving the scanning module withrespect to each of the originals; a selecting module for selecting thespecific mark on the first original and generating a standard positionsignal corresponding to a position of the specific mark according to areference coordinate system of the image acquiring device; acontrol-processing unit for processing the first analog signal and thesecond analog signal into a first digital signal and a second digitalsignal respectively, and generating a digital mark signal of thespecific mark; a memory for storing the digital mark signal and thestandard position signal, based on which the control-processing unitjudges an orientation state of the second digital signal, wherein thecontrol-processing unit identifies a position of the digital mark signalin the second digital signal and generates a rotating signal.
 2. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein the control-processing unit furtherrotates the second digital signal according to the rotating signal andgenerates a normal image signal.
 3. The device according to claim 1,wherein the selecting module comprises: a display on which a user viewsan image of the first original; and an input device through which theuser selects the specific mark on the display.
 4. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein the selecting module comprises: an input devicethrough which a user selects the specific mark.
 5. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein the selecting module automatically determines theposition of the specific mark according to the first digital signal. 6.The device according to claim 1, wherein the image acquiring device isconnected to an image processing device through an input/output port andoutputs the second digital signal and the rotating signal to the imageprocessing device, such that the image processing device performs arotation process on the second digital signal according to the rotatingsignal.
 7. The device according to claim 2, wherein the image acquiringdevice is connected to an image processing device through aninput/output port and outputs the normal image signal to the imageprocessing device.
 8. The device according to claim 2, wherein the imageacquiring device is connected to an printing device through aninput/output port and the control-processing unit further processes thenormal image signal into a print signal and outputs the print signal tothe printing device.
 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein therotating signal indicates that the second digital signal be rotated by 0or 180 degrees.
 10. The device according to claim 1, wherein therotating signal indicates that the second digital signal be rotated by0, 90, 180 or 270 degrees.
 11. An image acquiring method for scanning afirst original and a second original, a specific mark being located at aspecific position of each of the originals, the method comprising thesteps of: scanning the first original to obtain a first analog signal;processing the first analog signal into a first digital signal;selecting the specific mark on the first original and generating astandard position signal corresponding to a position of the specificmark according to a reference coordinate system; generating a digitalmark signal of the specific mark; storing the digital mark signal andthe standard position signal, for judging an orientation state of thesecond original; scanning the second original to obtain a second analogsignal; processing the second analog signal into a second digitalsignal; and identifying a position of the digital mark signal in thesecond digital signal to generate a rotating signal.
 12. The methodaccording to claim 11, further comprising the step of: rotating thesecond digital signal according to the rotating signal and generating anormal image signal.
 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein thestep of generating the standard position signal comprises: providing aselection interface for a user; and receiving an input from the user whooperates the selection interface to select the specific mark.
 14. Themethod according to claim 11, wherein the step of generating thestandard position signal is performed by a selecting unit whichautomatically determines the position of the specific mark according tothe first digital signal.
 15. The method according to claim 11, furthercomprising the step of: outputting the rotating signal and the seconddigital signal to an image processing device.
 16. The method accordingto claim 11, wherein the rotating signal indicates that the seconddigital signal be rotated by 0 or 180 degrees.
 17. The method accordingto claim 11, wherein the rotating signal indicates that the seconddigital signal be rotated by 0, 90, 180 or 270 degrees.